Update: The details of Marko Lihteneker
who died on Everest are slowing coming together. Two climbers have
confirmed seeing Marko with oxygen problems. The details of his oxygen
problem is still unclear at this point. But oxygen systems fail regularly
on Everest. According to climbers on the mountain with Marko, he did not
have another bottle with him. He had left the other bottle at a spot lower
on the mountain to pick it up when he descended. Marko also did not have a
Sherpa. Marko was seen trying to work on this
oxygen system at the spot where the Chinese found him on their way to the
summit a few days ago. It was unclear if Marko was going up or down.
Another climber at one point attempted to give Marko tea but by that time he could not
drink... "He was to far gone..."

Marko
was a member of 7 Summits Club Expedition.

We have
been talking with Abramov Alexander, Leader of 7 summits club expedition,
about what happened. Today he sent us the following letter which is unedited except
corrected spelling in some cases..

Dear
EverestNews, If you wish you can publish my letter

I think
it will be useful for many Everest climbers.

Yes ,we
use "POISK " o2. I have boute [bought] all bottles, mask, regulators just
new from "POISK" factory in Russia from Maksimov Andrey. I am sure that
reason is not in quality of o2 but in case that o2 finished at normal way
and climbers not control well the oxygen volume .

Viktor
and Marko started 03;30 from 8300. Victor reported from summit at 12;30 At
13;00-13:30 Viktor meet Marko, who was in 1 hour to summit, so Marko reach
summit about 14;30 and begin go down about 15;00 Normally people climb to
2- step about 4 hours, and near this place change 1-st bottle to fool
second. If you breathe 2l per minutes all yours 02 should finish in 8
hours.

In seasons 2003 and 2004
Russian Adventure Team organized 2 successful commercial expeditions on
Everest from Tibet side. Based on the last 2 years' experience, RAT is
launching another Everest expedition in spring 2005.

"Looks like people trust us,
- says Alexander Abramov (Alex), the founder and permanent leader of Russian
Adventure Team Everest Expeditions - and this year the list of participants
is practically ready before the New Year.

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